2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

While all of the cars on this list are fun to drive, the Cobalt SS is far and away the sportiest, most capable entry of the entire category.

While all of the cars on this list are fun to drive, the is far and away the sportiest, most capable entry of the entire category.

This new 2008 American compact coupe looks virtually unchanged visually from its former self, save for a mild body kit, bigger 18-in. tires and large Brembo brakes. But, like my mother always used to say, it's what's inside that counts: The Cobalt SS sports a little turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that belts out a whopping 260 horsepower, and believe it or not, it feels even more powerful than that, with plenty of instantaneous oomph available at any rpm.

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The suspension has been tuned so well it is one of the most balanced, best handling front-wheel-drive cars we've driven in recent memory. Just how good is it? Rounding our 200-ft skidpad, we pulled an amazing 0.92g — just 0.02 off of the number we achieved in the $248,903 Ferrari F430. And get this...the Cobalt SS was actually faster through our slalom test than the quarter-million-dollar Italian exotic — 72.4 mph vs. 71.9. And at just $22,335, the Chevy is less than one-tenth the cost! On top of all of this, this compact hatchback gets 30 mpg on the highway.

Need more room? says a 4-door Cobalt SS is on the way, and it will be priced identically to the hatch while offering the same degree of performance.